---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The scientific method is about trying to…"
description: "\"The scientific method is about trying to remove our own bias and subjectivity, and be as objective as possible. But then you can put it back into conte..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1a2/alice-roberts-6136_bias_the-scientific-method-is-about-trying-to_1625642.jpg"
---

#  The scientific method is about trying to remove our own…

![“The scientific method is about trying to remove our own bias and subjectivity, and be as objective as possible. But then you can put it back into context and you're allowed to be emotional and human about the way you engage with it.” quote by Alice Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1a2/alice-roberts-6136_bias_the-scientific-method-is-about-trying-to_1625642.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1a2/alice-roberts-6136_bias_the-scientific-method-is-about-trying-to_1625642.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1a2/alice-roberts-6136_bias_the-scientific-method-is-about-trying-to_1625642.jpg)

> “The scientific method is about trying to remove our own bias and subjectivity, and be as objective as possible. But then you can put it back into context and you're allowed to be emotional and human about the way you engage with it.”

[Alice Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-roberts/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The scientific method seeks objectivity, but human emotion can contextualize interpretation and engagement.

**In simple terms:** Science aims for objectivity, yet human perspective adds meaning.

Key Takeaway

Balance rigor with empathy.

Themes

science objectivity humanity

Mood

thoughtful analytical

Type

philosophical inspirational

When to use this quote

- research design
- science communication
- policy making

Key Concepts

bias methodology empathy

Questions to Reflect On

- How can we ensure emotions enrich rather than bias analysis?
- When is emotional insight most valuable?

A Different Perspective

Emotions may cloud data interpretation if unchecked.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Bias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bias/) [Human](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) [Scientific method](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scientific-method/) [Subjectivity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/subjectivity/)

## Related quotes

> [The academic bias against subjectivity not only forces our students to write poorly ("It is believed...," instead of, "I believe..."), it deforms their thinking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/parker-j-palmer/the-academic-bias-against-subjectivity-not-only-forces-our-students/)

[Parker J. Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/parker-j-palmer/)

> [Subjectivity is objective.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/subjectivity-is-objective/)

[Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/)

> [The scientific method is designed to help investigators overcome the most entrenched human cognitive habit: the confirmation bias, the tendency to notice and remember…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-tavris/the-scientific-method-is-designed-to-help-investigators-overcome-the/)

[Carol Tavris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-tavris/)

> [But I think you can strip the emotion and the subjectivity away while you focus on doing the science - and that's really important.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-roberts/but-i-think-you-can-strip-the-emotion-and-the-subjectivity-away-while/)

[Alice Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-roberts/)

> [For far too long economists have sought to define themselves in terms of their supposedly scientific methods. In fact, those methods rely on an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-piketty/for-far-too-long-economists-have-sought-to-define-themselves-in-terms/)

[Thomas Piketty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-piketty/)

> [Scientific method is the way to truth, but it affords, even in principle, no unique definition of truth. Any so-called pragmatic definition of truth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willard-van-orman-quine/scientific-method-is-the-way-to-truth-but-it-affords-even-in/)

[Willard Van Orman Quine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willard-van-orman-quine/)

> [The earlier you invest, the higher that attrition rate is because it's compounded. We have a more scientific method of investment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-mcclure/the-earlier-you-invest-the-higher-that-attrition-rate-is-because-it-s/)

[Dave McClure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-mcclure/)

> [From Roger Bacon, the 13th century Franciscan who pioneered the scientific method, to George Lemaitre, the 20th century Belgian priest who first developed a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-r-miller/from-roger-bacon-the-13th-century-franciscan-who-pioneered-the/)

[Kenneth R. Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-r-miller/)

> [These algorithms, which I'll call public relevance algorithms, are-by the very same mathematical procedures-producing and certifying knowledge. The algorithmic assessment of information, then, represents…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tarleton-gillespie/these-algorithms-which-i-ll-call-public-relevance-algorithms-are-by/)

Tarleton Gillespie

> [If the question were, "What ought to be the next objective in science?" my answer would be the teaching of science to the young,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elihu-thomson/if-the-question-were-what-ought-to-be-the-next-objective-in-science/)

Elihu Thomson

> [Statistics is the branch of scientific method which deals with the data obtained by counting or measuring the properties of populations of natural phenomena.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-kendall/statistics-is-the-branch-of-scientific-method-which-deals-with-the/)

Maurice Kendall

> [My parents were not scientists. They knew almost nothing about science. But in introducing me simultaneously to skepticism and to wonder, they taught me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sagan/my-parents-were-not-scientists-they-knew-almost-nothing-about-science/)

[Carl Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sagan/)

> [To mistrust science and deny the validity of scientific method is to resign your job as a human. You'd better go look for work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/to-mistrust-science-and-deny-the-validity-of-scientific-method-is-to/)

[P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/)

> [Our modern conception of the universe is so foreign to what even scientists generally believed a mere century ago that it is a tribute…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-m-krauss/our-modern-conception-of-the-universe-is-so-foreign-to-what-even/)

[Lawrence M. Krauss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-m-krauss/)

> [By committing the scientific method to religious claims you're committing a logical fallacy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-collins/by-committing-the-scientific-method-to-religious-claims-you-re/)

[Francis Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-collins/)

## More by Alice Roberts

> [Our ape legs make us great generalists - we can walk, run and climb. But when you try to do too many things at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-roberts/our-ape-legs-make-us-great-generalists-we-can-walk-run-and-climb-but/)

[Alice Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-roberts/)

> [Pagan Romans started their midwinter celebrations with the feast of Saturnalia on 17 December, ending them with a new year festival, the Kalendae Januariae,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-roberts/pagan-romans-started-their-midwinter-celebrations-with-the-feast-of/)

[Alice Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-roberts/)

> [I'm slightly obsessed with Moomins. They were my specialist subject on BBC's 'Celebrity Mastermind' a few years ago!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-roberts/i-m-slightly-obsessed-with-moomins-they-were-my-specialist-subject-on/)

[Alice Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-roberts/)

> [I gave up meat when I was 18, and it was an ethical decision. I loved the taste, and went on holiday to Greece,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-roberts/i-gave-up-meat-when-i-was-18-and-it-was-an-ethical-decision-i-loved/)

[Alice Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-roberts/)

> [As an anthropologist, I believe strongly in our common humanity. We can rise above the tribal divisions that have caused so much anguish and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-roberts/as-an-anthropologist-i-believe-strongly-in-our-common-humanity-we-can/)

[Alice Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-roberts/)

> [If a group of humans began to run regularly, perhaps allowing them to hunt or scavenge more effectively, anatomical changes would follow, especially among…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-roberts/if-a-group-of-humans-began-to-run-regularly-perhaps-allowing-them-to/)

[Alice Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-roberts/)

> [The real hallmarks of humanity are: curiosity and an amazing ability to cooperate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-roberts/the-real-hallmarks-of-humanity-are-curiosity-and-an-amazing-ability/)

[Alice Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-roberts/)

> [I've always loved the seaside and I used to be a fairly keen surfer, but it's a solitary activity so when my husband and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-roberts/i-ve-always-loved-the-seaside-and-i-used-to-be-a-fairly-keen-surfer/)

[Alice Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-roberts/)

> [It's tempting to look back into history with rose-tinted glasses. Most people in the Stone Age didn't live anywhere near as long as we're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-roberts/it-s-tempting-to-look-back-into-history-with-rose-tinted-glasses-most/)

[Alice Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-roberts/)

> [It is so stimulating for young children to hear someone who does science talking about it. It can be so exciting and inspiring. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-roberts/it-is-so-stimulating-for-young-children-to-hear-someone-who-does/)

[Alice Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-roberts/)

> [The paleo diet is utter nonsense - it is such pseudoscience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-roberts/the-paleo-diet-is-utter-nonsense-it-is-such-pseudoscience/)

[Alice Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-roberts/)

> [In fact, humans have less variation genetically than chimpanzees.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-roberts/in-fact-humans-have-less-variation-genetically-than-chimpanzees/)

[Alice Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-roberts/)

> [It's incredible that the layout of the centre of Chester, for instance, is still essentially that of the original Roman fort.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-roberts/it-s-incredible-that-the-layout-of-the-centre-of-chester-for-instance/)

[Alice Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-roberts/)

> [More useful than beautiful perhaps, my favourite regular programme is 'Question Time'. And Charlie Brooker is just hilarious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-roberts/more-useful-than-beautiful-perhaps-my-favourite-regular-programme-is/)

[Alice Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-roberts/)

> [Whatever happens to science in schools, there's something peculiar going on if students don't see it as creative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-roberts/whatever-happens-to-science-in-schools-there-s-something-peculiar/)

[Alice Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-roberts/)

[Explore all 100 Alice Roberts quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-roberts/)

## More Bias quotes

> [The print is devised so that I can cut the dresses on the bias, so they work around the body. It's not like a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-galliano/the-print-is-devised-so-that-i-can-cut-the-dresses-on-the-bias-so/)

[John Galliano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-galliano/)

> [“Mental illness is not something you misunderstand in this era. Get educated because bias is no different than racism.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-l-alder/mental-illness-is-not-something-you-misunderstand-in-this-era-get/)

[Shannon L. Alder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-l-alder/)

> ["Natural" is a very dangerous word to use about sexuality ... Our society's notions of normality are completely fake and meta-trendy, since they rely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susie-bright/natural-is-a-very-dangerous-word-to-use-about-sexuality-our-society-s/)

[Susie Bright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susie-bright/)

> [Science manipulates things and gives up living in them. It makes its own limited models of things; operating upon these indices or variables to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-merleau-ponty/science-manipulates-things-and-gives-up-living-in-them-it-makes-its/)

[Maurice Merleau-Ponty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-merleau-ponty/)

> [Fortunately for serious minds, a bias recognized is a bias sterilized.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-haydon/fortunately-for-serious-minds-a-bias-recognized-is-a-bias-sterilized/)

[Benjamin Haydon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-haydon/)

> [I can say this very clearly: I have come into this Congress with an antiwar bias.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lois-frankel/i-can-say-this-very-clearly-i-have-come-into-this-congress-with-an/)

[Lois Frankel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lois-frankel/)

> [The legal bias for special protection for women has begun to wreak havoc with the Constitution's guarantee of equal protection.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-farrell/the-legal-bias-for-special-protection-for-women-has-begun-to-wreak/)

[Warren Farrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-farrell/)

> [That's awesome. There's no bias in the media.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-edwards/that-s-awesome-there-s-no-bias-in-the-media/)

[Carl Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-edwards/)

> [“The most disgusting human trait is bias, because it typically leads to propaganda, hate and violence.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lori-lifsey/the-most-disgusting-human-trait-is-bias-because-it-typically-leads-to/)

[Lori Lifsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lori-lifsey/)

> [I'm speaking out against social media bias.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-loomer/i-m-speaking-out-against-social-media-bias/)

[Laura Loomer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-loomer/)

> [“I pick up a copy of Newsweek on the plane and immediately notice how biased, slanted, and opinionated all the U.S. newsmagazine articles are.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-byrne/i-pick-up-a-copy-of-newsweek-on-the-plane-and-immediately-notice-how/)

[David Byrne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-byrne/)

> [“Hundreds of studies confirm that human forecasts are flawed and biased. Human decision making is not so great either. Again to take just one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-h-thaler/hundreds-of-studies-confirm-that-human-forecasts-are-flawed-and/)

[Richard H. Thaler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-h-thaler/)

> [“Many journalists now are no more than channelers and echoers of what George Orwell called the 'official truth'. They simply cipher and transmit lies.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-pilger/many-journalists-now-are-no-more-than-channelers-and-echoers-of-what/)

[John Pilger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-pilger/)

> [The stance I took was there is no room for racial bias anywhere in sports. I believe that was basically all I said about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-larkin/the-stance-i-took-was-there-is-no-room-for-racial-bias-anywhere-in/)

[Barry Larkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-larkin/)

> [First and foremost, if you want to be a good writer, you need to be a good eater. You need to be fearless when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-leong/first-and-foremost-if-you-want-to-be-a-good-writer-you-need-to-be-a/)

[Melissa Leong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-leong/)

[Browse all 667 Bias quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bias/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "The scientific method is about trying to remove our own bias and subjectivity, and be as objective as possible. But then you can put it back into context and you're allowed to be emotional and human about the way you engage with it.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Alice Roberts"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-roberts/the-scientific-method-is-about-trying-to-remove-our-own-bias-and/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Bias"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-roberts/the-scientific-method-is-about-trying-to-remove-our-own-bias-and/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1a2/alice-roberts-6136_bias_the-scientific-method-is-about-trying-to_1625642.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1a2/alice-roberts-6136_bias_the-scientific-method-is-about-trying-to_1625642.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1a2/alice-roberts-6136_bias_the-scientific-method-is-about-trying-to_1625642.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“The scientific method is about trying to remove our own bias and subjectivity, and be as objective as…” — Alice Roberts",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Alice Roberts",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-roberts/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "The scientific method is about trying...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-roberts/the-scientific-method-is-about-trying-to-remove-our-own-bias-and/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-roberts/the-scientific-method-is-about-trying-to-remove-our-own-bias-and/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
